Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa

Mom and Dad have started a tradition where they invite their children's families over one at a time  during the holidays.  It is some much needed and appreciated one on one time with the Grandparents.  It is wonderful that most of us live out here, but the kids don't get very much one on one time with them because we are almost always in a big group.  Anyway...this time together we exchange gifts, eat food, play games and just enjoy each others company.  It is wonderful.  (Thanks mom and dad!!)

We love having Grandma and Grandpa close by!!  :)

 

Merry Christmas!

The holidays seem like a whirlwind and it went by way too fast.  Before I get into all the fun and traditions that took place, I want to reflect for a minute on the true meaning of Christmas.  I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and all that He has taught us.  If only we could all strive to be more like Him all year round and not just at the holiday season when we celebrate His birth.  I am grateful for all that I have and that I have been blessed with.  I am grateful for my family and my friends .  This year was the first year I really got to witness some of my kids focusing on others and not just on what they will receive.  It was rewarding to see them work and give and feel the happiness after they have done it.  I hope they will always remember how they felt and continue to want to give and serve rather than receive. 

We started December with a visit to Santa at Cabelas with all the cousins here in Utah. 

 

Then we put our tree up.  I don't think we have ever gotten it up so early before.  Grandma and Grandpa give the kids ornaments every year, so it is fun to look at them as the kids put them up.  And my Grandma gave me ornaments every year as I grew up also.  We have fun with those as well.  But I think they have the most fun with my home made ones from when I was a kid.  The teasing never ends.  That's ok though, some day they will be the ones getting teased because each year a number of home made ones are added.  ;)

 

 

Then we had a cousins gift exchange.  The kids love picking out the gifts for their cousins and of course love to see what they have received as well.

 

The fun keeps going, but I'll post it later.  This is a good start to my new goal of trying to document what happens in our lives.  I have been terrible the last couple years but I am going to do better.    More about Christmas later.  :)

 

 

Mommy and Mia time

 

 

 

This is the type of stuff we end up doing when all the boys are at school.  She is a funny little girl.  I spun the wheel, she did whatever I spun.  I tried to talk her out of this game because there were no other kids around to be on the mat with her, but she didn't care.  I am actually really enjoying the one on one time that we get.  She is good at entertaining herself, so it's not like I'm constantly playing games or entertaining, it's a bit of both.  A good balance.  And when all else fails and we already played, she has cousins next door!!  :)  I'm happy for this chance to build a relationship with her and have the time to be with just her.  Although, she may be enjoying it a little too much because I'm having a hard time getting her to go to school happily 2x per week.  As she says "It's more fun at home with mommy"  haha  :/    (Score for me, but she needs to go to school)

Yellowstone

It has become an nice little tradition for us to go to Yellowstone with my Aunt and Uncle every summer.  We've been doing it for quite a while now, even the kids expect it and ask when it's happening.  :)  We arrived Thurs night when the sun was setting.  So just enough time to set up tent and make a fire to roast marshmallows and make smores.  :)  The next morning was rainy, so we debated on going on our hike or not, but in the end we decided to go for it.

 

 The rain stopped right when we started hiking, so it was perfect weather for hiking.  A bit overcast and not too hot.  We found a patch of wild raspberries that everyone enjoyed.  Last year it was huckleberries, this year raspberries.  Yummy!

 I forgot the name of this bridge, but if you'd stop on it, you could feel the wind moving it. 

 It took forever, but we finally made it to this pretty beach!!  Everyone was tired and HUNGRY!!  :)  Diego has learned when Colleen says the destination is "just around that bend" it is actually just around the next bend, and the next, and the next for a few more miles.  hahaha

 Bones of an Elk...we think

 I almost threw up when I saw Alessandro carrying around this hair ball from a buffalo.  I made it get rid of it after this picture.  No way was I going to let that thing end up in the bags and in my house eventually!  Eeeewww

 Saturday we were a bit worn out from the hike the day before so we decided to take it easy and go walk around some hot spots and see some geysers.  They were beautiful.  Stinky, but pretty.  :)

 We had to wait forever for this buffalo to get off the rode.  He actually stood in the rode blocking traffic as he waited for the female and baby to cross.  As soon as they crossed he got out of traffics way.  I found it interesting to see how they acted with family.  I have never seen so many buffalo together.  It was awesome.  There were hundreds of them and we'd sit and watch them walk together as a family, roll around in the dirt, and we even got to hear them!  I have never heard them before.  It was really cool.

 These two are just a couple weeks apart in age, so it's always fun when they get together.  They both wanted to be the leader on our hike and I think that competitiveness is what kept them going.  Crazy girls.

Lost Tooth

Luca lost his first tooth!!!

 

 

Fishing with Grandpa

Dad had asked if Udine, Diego, and Alessandro wanted to go fishing with him and Ben and his boys.  At last minute Udine had to cancel because a meeting came up at work that he could not get out of, so I decided to go.  I don't think I've been fishing with my dad since I was in high school, maybe even middle school.??  Anyway, it was a good time and 3 of the 4 kids got to reel a fish in, so it was exciting.

 Alessandro and his fish...it jumped out of their hands, slimed Alessandro's mouth and flopped on to the boat floor after this picture.  ;)

 Diego and his fish.  This fish jumped back in the water one sec after getting this picture.  I was worried I missed the moment, but I didn't.  :)

Apparently I didn't get the fish in that picture above.  But that is the one Packer caught and dad kept it to cook.  Diego volunteered to gut and clean the thing.  I think his words when it was all said and done were "Gross...I shouldn't have said I'd do that"  or something to that affect.  hahaha